Platen-release mechanism



B. 1. Down. PLATEN RELEASE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILVIDy SEPT. 7. 1918.

.y Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

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:BLElPvlYIAlliDv J; DOWD, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ROYL TYPEWRITEE COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PLATEN-RELESE MECHANISM.

imacat. 5

` Specication'ofLetters Patent.

Patented Aug.. 5, 1919.

Application area september 7, 191s. serial 110.253,005.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD J. DowD,.a

citizen of the United States, and a resident The present invention relates generally to ,i

typewriting machines and has more particularly reference to spacing mechanism for effecting not only the usual line Spacing but what is 'commonly known as fractional line spacing.

In the patent to Hess, No. 1,196,110, there is shown spacing mechanism with a train of connections from the line spacing elements to the platen including two locking members that constitute a so-called fractional spacing mechanism. In that device, one of the locking members is, at all times, movable with the line spacing mechanism and the other member is, at all times, movable with the platen, said other member being adjustable lengthwise to free it from its fellow and means being provided to urge the locking member that is carried by the platen into engagement with-the. locking member carried by the line spacing mechanism.

The articular form in which the invention is ereclothed is that disclosed in the patent to Dowd No. 1,247 ,383, in which the movable locking member is provided with a removable abutment member seated in its bers are released bg that extends throng face. f

The construction of de'zes of this char acter is generallysuch that the locking meman actuating member the platen shaft and is operated by pressure on a button adjacent the twirler or knob of the platen, the parts being so arranged that the adjustably movable locking member will rengage its fellow when pressure on the button is released and will cause a return movement of said actuating member lengthwise of the platen shaft. Under some conditions, it may be desirable to prevent rei-Engagement of 4the movable locking member with its fellow: V,and the object of this invention is to provide means whereby this maybe effected. `The invention therefore consists of the features struction hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure lis afview, partly in elevation and of `con-v partly in section, of a kplaten and release mechanism for the' platen showing the invention applied thereto in a preferred embodiment, the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the locking members have .been prevented from returning into engagement with each other. Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1 with th portion in elevation in that figure omitted, the section through the platen and associated device being taken at an angle to thatshownin Fig. l and the parts being shown with the Alocking members 1n engagement.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

The particular construction of platen, fractional spacer and line spacing mechanism with which the invention is here associated is as follows: Y

5 indicates a platen of conventional type consisting here of a core 6 and a rubber covering 7. One end of the platen is provided with a head 8 having an inwardly extending hollow boss 9 and an outwardly extending hollow boss 10'., The head .8 is secured to the platen by means of screws, 11, as shown. 12 isv the platen shaft here shown as Vbeing secured to. 'the platen yby means of a set screw 13.

A typical line spacing mechanism yand fractional spacer is here shown consisting essentially of two locking members 14 and 15 and a ratchet 16. The locking member 15 is mounted to rotate freely on platen shaft 12, and ratchet 16 is mountedon a hub 17 of thelocking member 15 and turns therewith.

The locking member 14 is slidably mounted on a hollow boss 10 of head 8 and is connected with the platen so as to turn therewith. In the present instance, the member 14 is of a disk-likecharacter, its dimensions or thickness being sufiiciently ample, however, to insure its durability and tov impart suiicient'strength to withstand the stresses to which it is subjected. In the form herein disclosed, the member 14 consists of a hub 1,196,110. The locking member 14 is mounted to rotate with the platen and is normally urged into engagement with the locking member 15 by suitable means, which, in the present instance, take the following form: 22 indicate pins, suitably secured to the arms of the locking member 14 and having extensions 23 that fit snugly in, and pass through, openings 24 in head 8 and into sockets 25 of the platen.V 26 indicates a spring seated between the inner end of socket`25 and a collar 27 that is carried by extension 23. The collar 27 is-situated part way down the extension 23 so that the en'd of the latter projects inside'spring 26. The connect-ion just described constitutes, in effect, pressed plungers that normally urge `the locking member 14 into engagement with the locking member 15 and, at the same time, in-

sure the'rotation, in unison, of the locking member 14 and the laten. f

The locking mem er' 14 is provided with an inwardly projecting tongue 33 that ex-4 tends through an open channel 34 of the hollow boss 10 and into a channel 35 of platen shaft 12. Suitable actuating means, here shown as a rod 36, extends through the channel in platen shaft 12-and is operated from its end by means of a push button 37.

As is. customary in devices of this character, the platen shaft 12 is provided with a suitable knob or twirler 38, the bushing 39 of which overhangs the end of the platen shaft and is secured to said platen shaft by means,

for instance, such as set screw 40. The outer vend of bushing 39 is here slightly enlarged, interiorly, as at 41 to afford space for a stop member 42 carried by actuating member 36 provided with a push button 37. The inward movement of this push button is limited by stop member 42 coming in contact with the end of platen shaft 12 and its outward movement is limited by a set screw 43.

The actuating member or rod 36 extends through platen shaft 12 and is in abutting engagement with locking member 14 mounted to slide lengthwise of thel platen shaft.

It will 4be understood that, when push button 37 is moved inwardly, locking members 14 and 15 will be released, thereby admitting of the independent rotation of platen 5 with respect to the line spacing mechanism; and also that when pressure is released from push button 37, spring 26 will urge movable locking member 14 into rengagement with member 15 and Will also move the actuating member or rod 36 outwardly and restore it to the position( 'it occupied before it was moved by the operator. In certain eventualities, it may be desired to maintain locking members 14 andv 15 in their releasing position and to prevent spring 26 from restoring them into engagement with each other. In order tol accomplish this, suitable comspringried by actuatin member 36 and an arcuate'v slot 46 formed 1n bushing 39 of twirler 38 and therefore fast with the platen shaft, said slot having a restricted opening 47 through which pin 45 may enter the arcuate slot 46. The complementary means just described are rotatably adjustable with respect to each other so that pin 45 may be ositioned in or out of alinement with restricted opening 47 In the present instance, ac-

tuating member 36 is capable of a rotating adjustment around its own axis. It will, therefore, be understood that when pin 45 is in alinement with the restricted opening 46, push button 37 may be pressed inwardly thereby lcausing locking member 14 to be released fom member 15. If it isnow desired to maintain the parts in this position, actuatin member 36 is given a turn, slight, but suliient to 'bring the pin 45 out of alinement with the restricted opening 47. It will be understood that in these circumstances, it is not possible for spring 26 to restore locking members 14 and 15 to their position in engagement with each other. If it is now desired to have the locking members re'e'ngage, pin 45 is turned so as to register with the restricted opening 47 when spring 26 will move it outwardly, thus, at the same time,

that pin 45 may be used to prevent inward movement of push Ibutton 37. This can be done by turning actuating member36 until pin 45 occupies a position such as is shown in Fig. 2 when inward movement of said pin through the restricted opening 47 will be prevented.

I claim:

1. A platen shaft, an actuating member for releasing line spacing mechanism rotatable on its own axis and extending longitudinally of the platen shaft and movable lengthwise thereof, and complementary means on said actuating memberand Said shaft for preventing or admitting at the will of the operator of lengthwise movement vof the actuating member including an arcuate slot near the outer end of the platen shaft having a restricted openin extending from said slot to the outer end o the platen shaft,

movablefrom a point outside of the shaft through said opening into the slot and vice versa.

2. Platen release mechanism comprising: a platen and platen shaft, line spacing mechanism for said platen including locking members, means normally urging the locking members into engagement, and means extending through the platen shaft and having a lengthwise movement for effecting release of the locking members and a rotary movement at two points for preventing, at

the will of the operator, lengthwise move- 10 ment of the means extending through the Hartford and State of Conn., this Llth day 15 of September 1918.

i BERNARD J. DoWD. 

